The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-16

pursued, for Crombie and his men would
believe them dead.
by daylight Miners Valley was miles
away, and they were speeding away to lib
erty and to patient, anxious Bertha Bordell.
Poor Berthal Little did the faithful
Ellis dream OF all the startling events that
had occurred at Elmville since his depart
ure.
For, at the very hour when the fugitives
from Miners Valley were Fastening from
their recent prison, affairs at the bankers
mansion had reached crisis.
Arden had made proposal for the hand
of Bertha Bordell. She had courteously
but firmly refused him.
Arden had seen her father. The latter
favored his preference, but babe him wait
patiently until Betha had forgotten her
former lover, Robert Ellis.
So time wore on and Arden pretended to
have discovered new defalcations on the
part of Arnold Bordell.
The banker had given almost the entire
charge of the bank to Arden, and, about
the time Ellis arrived at Miners Valley,
had gone to a neighboring city on a bust
ness visit.
That evening Arden had called upon
Bertha. He had again pressed his suit, and
had again been repulsed.
Angered at her aversion, he revealed his
true mind. He startled her by informing
her that he held her fathers fortune in his
power; that he would wreck the bank un-
less she consented to wed him.
"Miscreanti" Bertha had cried, indig-
nantly, as she ordered him from the house,
do your worst! / could not marry you if
/ would, for was secretly welded to the
man l love, Robert Ellis, the night of his
departure from Elmvlle!"
With a crestfallen face and with baflled
hate in his heart, Arden left the Bordell
mansion.
"The crisis has comet" he muttered. 81
can never hope to gain the girl now. Be-
fore another day L will fly with the funds
of the bank and content myself with that"
And the next morning telegram recalled
Mr.. Bordell TO Elmville
| Arden had indeed acted the villain. He
had taken all the available funds of the
| bank. The institution was seriously en-
barrassed, MIR. Bordell amazed, crushed.
Detectives were sent after Arden, and
MIR. Bordell was compelled 10 borrow all
the money he could to replace the stolen
funds.
For some days the banks loss was kept a
secret from the general public. Gradually
| the truth was known.
Two weeks after the departure of Arden,
there was run of the depostors on the
Elmville bank.
The first day il was confined to the larger
creditors, who were easily placated.
The second day the smaller depositors
took the alarm. Mr.. Bordell imagined
that the run would be of but brief duration,
but began TO become anxious as at the end
of the day the cash reserve In the bank was
depleted to only few thousand dollars.
The third day he sent trusted employee
to the city to negotiate some bonds for
ready cash.
That morning the street in front of the
bank was thronged.
At noon a dispatch came from the city.
The banker paled as he read it:
Cannot negotiate the security. The
stock is q drug on the market"
1--WE must close the bank" TREMENDOUSLY
muttered the banker. after quarter of
century of an honorable business career,
the firm of John Bordell and Company
fails disgracefully"
Poor Bertha, who sat in his private Of
fee. endeavored to encourage him, but
vainly. His proud spirit was crushed TO
the very dust of humiliation and defeat.
The cashier reported bare thousand
dollars in currency in the vaults.
PAY it out, close the doors, and an
nounce a suspension of the bank, groaned
Mr.. Bordell, as he dropped his ashen face
into his hands in bitter grief
sullen roar of rage went up from the
crowd outside as the Waterman closed the
doors.
Threats of violence were rife; the excited
throng became furious at the supposed loss
of their money.
They beat at the doors and flung rocks at
the window.
Hello what is all this?" cried CHEEKY
voice, and two young men elbowed their
way through the crowd.
THE bankers son, Arnold Bordell, and
Robert Ellis" calculated several amazed
voic s, simultaneously.
Exactly, my friends, but what Is the
matter here?' demanded Arnold.
"A run on the bank, replied the crowd.
"Impossible"
They've just closed the doors of the
bank"
They shall open them again, then. Pa
tience, my friends; no creditor OF old John
Bordell shall ever lose dollar!"
"Hurrah!"
"As to money-we lave thousands here"
Arnold Bordell waved large sachel in
his hand. He pushed open the doors the
bank Waterman was just locking, marched
strai9htway behind the counter, and flung
it upon the desk.
In wild amazement the cashier gazed at
him.
Open the doors-come in line Cashier,
verify the accounts, and | will pay these
people"
Arnold had opened TIE sachel. 1t was
filed with gold coin and bank notes.
Then ensued wild scene of excitement.
At the sight of so much money public con-
fidence was restored.
In half an hour the run had ceased, and
tho crowd outside we're cheering for the
banker.
From his private Office John Bordell had
seen all this as in dream.
He was only aroused when he saw Robert
Ellis EMBEDDING the astonished Bertha in
his arms, and his sons hand grasped his
own warmly.
Ard then all the truth came ont. Arnold
and Ellis had come from Miners Valley 10y
way of the ravine gold mine, had secured
all they could carry, had converted 1t into
cash. and bad arrived ut Elmville just III
time TO save the bank.
Two hours later n telegram from the far
West announced that Arden had been
found and his stolen gains secured. lie
had been shot while escap ng. confessed
the plot agains, Arnold Bprdell. and died
The public knew all tn strange story
the ensuing day, and John Bord II was
proud man Mt the establ shmcnt OF his